What does "Take courage! It is I" reveal about Jesus' divine identity? The Stormy Backdrop • Matthew 14:27: “But Jesus spoke to them at once: ‘Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.’” • The disciples are exhausted, buffeted by wind and waves long after sunset (Matthew 14:24–25). • Into that chaos Jesus comes, literally walking on the water. The Words Themselves • “Take courage!”—a command, not a suggestion. • “It is I” (Greek: egō eimi). • “Do not be afraid” immediately follows, grounding their peace in His presence. “It Is I” — Echo of the Divine Name • egō eimi matches the divine self-revelation: – Exodus 3:14: “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’” – Isaiah 41:4: “I, the LORD—the first and the last—I am He.” • Jesus employs the same expression elsewhere: – John 8:58: “Before Abraham was born, I am!” – John 18:5–6: soldiers draw back when He says, “I am He” (egō eimi). • By choosing egō eimi in the middle of a miracle, Jesus openly identifies Himself with the covenant name Yahweh. Power Over Creation • Job 9:8: God “treads on the waves of the sea.” Jesus now does the very act attributed exclusively to God. • Psalm 107:28-29: the LORD stills storms; Jesus calms the wind as soon as He enters the boat (Matthew 14:32). • Colossians 1:17 later affirms, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Walking on water showcases that sustaining power. Presence That Dispels Fear • Divine revelation in Scripture consistently couples God’s “I AM” with “Do not fear” (e.g., Isaiah 41:10, 13). • Jesus uses the same pairing: His identity is the antidote to panic. What We Learn About Jesus’ Identity • He bears the divine name—“I AM.” • He exercises divine prerogatives—ruling seas and weather. • He commands courage and banishes fear—something only God rightly demands. • He fulfills Old Testament descriptions of Yahweh in real time, before eyewitnesses. • He reveals that the Almighty Creator has stepped into human history in a tangible, bodily way. Living Truth Today • The same One who said “Take courage! It is I” still holds all things together and walks above every storm we face. • Our confidence rests not in circumstances but in the unchanging “I AM” who comes to us, speaks, and stays. |
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